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COIIMANDERY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

WAR PAPER 76. 

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dDMMA^DE[(f OF THE DI^TI(1(3T OF COLUMBIA, 



WAR PAPERS. 



76 



TKe Brilliant (Lareer of ^ieuleaaal I^Joswell 3{. 
^amsoa, U*. 5. IN'avy. 

prepared by companion 

Acting Master ^^ 

FRANCIS p. B. SANDS, 

Late U. S. Navy. 



READ AT THE STATED MEETING OF JANUARY 6, 1909. 



the night watches, the scouting parties watching over the wel- 
fare of the train of emigrants; the constant association with 
men enured to such hves of daring, tended to develop the mind 
of young Lamson, to make him thoughtful and serious beyond 
his years; taught him self-reliance and gave him a degree of 
confidence in himself that manifested itself in the emergencies 
of his eventful career later on. 

Often during the night watches on the blockade service 
during the War of the Rebellion, Lamson, at one time my 
messmate and later my commanding officer, would walk the 
deck with me describing the incidents of those days of his 
boyhood. He told of the settlement of the country where 
his parents and their friends settled in Oregon. He described 
the clearing of the land for cultivation, the upbuilding of the 
little community in which they were to live, and the hard- 
ships they encountered. He narrated in simple but vivid 
language the organization of the settlers for mutual protection 
from the Indians who, in their forages, sought to drive them 
away. 

He described the events of one such experience when he, 
a boy under fourteen years of age, went out with a large body 
of the settlers to check a band of Indians who were threatening 
the neighborhood. They searched the country, driving the 
Indians before them. With all the eagerness and impetu- 
osity of youth he had forced himself ahead of his party out 
into the open, when suddenly about fifty feet from him up 
rose a painted savage who was about to let fly an arrow at him. 
Lamson said he was all taken aback and forgot to use his rifle, 
but just stood and looked at the splendid speciman of man- 
hood before him. The crack of a rifle back of him and the 
whistle of the bullet close to his ear brought him to a reali- 
zation of his danger. He raised his own rifle but did not fire. 
He saw an expression of horror pass over the warrior's face, 



his bow was undrawn, he stood for a moment rigid, then with 
a sigh plunged forward, falling face down, and he was stone 
dead when they reached him, the bullet of the scout who had 
been so prompt having pierced his heart. This was the closest 
call Lamson had in those days. 

He was studious and his parents were evidently earnest 
in their religious belief, for their son always showed great 
devotion to his religious duties. 

On the 2oth of September, 1858, he was appointed to the 
United States Naval Academy from the Territory of Oregon, 
and, reporting there, he took a high place amongst the studious 
and earnest men of his class. 

The outbreak of the Civil War took all of his class to sea, 
and Lamson soon was able to demonstrate his qualifications 
as an officer. On the 9th of May, 1861, the Commandant of 
Midshipmen, Lieut. -Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, on orders from 
the Department, sent Lamson, then a second classman, as 
an acting master to the frigate Wabash, the flagship of Admiral 
Dupont. On November 11, 1861, Flag Officer Dupont, in 
his report of the capture of Fort Walker and the defenses of 
Hilton Head, gave to young Lamson special praise for his work 
with the pivot guns of the vessel in action, saying that he had 
"sustained the reputation of the Naval Academy" and was a 
valuable officer, and subsequently he was commended for 
efficient work in an armed launch protecting the bridge across 
the Savannah River. 

On August I, 1862, Lamson was promoted to be a lieutenant 
and was given a brief term of duty in the Navy Department, 
where he evidently soon became a favorite with his superiors. 

In 1863, when an important movement of the North Atlantic 
Blockading Squadron was being prepared for. Lieutenant 
Lamson was sent to the U. S. S. Minnesota, flagship of Admiral 
S. P. Lee. Assistant Secretary G. V. Fox wrote to the Admiral 
as follows : 



"Your second lieutenant is to be detached and we send you 
young Lamson in his place. Lamson was expected to go on 
other duty, but in anticipation of your movement upon the 
enemy, I thought you might wish upon your staff, at least for 
this fight, a young man that Dupont and Rodgers consider one 
of the very best in the service. Davis has had him in the 
Bureau for a month and speaks in the highest terms of him. 
I feel that you ought to have him for this occasion since you 
have no flag lieutenant." 

It was just at this time that I met him, having just been 
ordered as confidential aid to the Admiral, and Lamson accorded 
me the conveniences of his stateroom, as all the other state- 
rooms were occupied by my seniors. I soon became devotedly 
attached to him. From daily and intimate association with 
him I soon came to appreciate how high-minded and noble- 
hearted he was. His personal character was of the most lovable 
kind; pure minded, highly strung, full of professional zeal and 
loyal to the core, he was ever seeking to win the confidence of 
his superiors, the regard of his fellow officers, and the affection 
of the men of the crew. He was amiable, affable, and scholarly, 
as all who met him soon discovered, and his friendships multi- 
plied steadily. 

Lamson's courage was of the noblest kind. He was not 
rashly daring or reckless in his enterprises. When there 
was grave danger in any duty assigned to him, he not only fully 
prepared himself for its performance, but for its possible conse- 
quences to himself. He never quailed in the presence of danger. 

As I have mentioned he was deeply religious, and in my 
association with him I learned the more tender and loving 
impulses of his heart. 

I noted that whenever he had any serious undertakings 
before him he always withdrew for an hour or two to the quiet 
of his stateroom, from which he always came calm, resolute and 
ready for the work before him. 



Accident one day revealed to me the secret workings of his 
heart and mind in those moments of seclusion. 

So intimate had I become with him that I had never hesitated 
to rush in upon him when alone. 

It was just after he had received his orders to go up the Nanse- 
mond River to confront the Confederate forces on its banks, 
that I once thus thoughtlessly started to enter his stateroom. 

There was my friend Lamson with the photographs of his 
father and mother and of his sweetheart on his desk before him, 
and he held his Bible open in his hands. So absorbed was he 
that I quietly withdrew without disturbing him. 

My respect and regard for him was deepened as I thus came 
closer to his soul. 

He knew that in the work before him every hour was fraught 
with the danger of instant death from the bullets of the sharp- 
shooters of the enemy. 

Whilst thus communing for those brief moments he had in 
spirit taken his parents and his loved one to his heart. He had 
made his peace with his God. 

Then having satisfied the sentimental side of his being, he 
came out on deck calm and cheerful, the ready, alert and active 
officer, and devoted himself to his task, the God of Battles whom 
he had invoked watching over and protecting -him throughout 
the dangers he so quickly met. 

The Admiral was constantly calling upon him for his opinions 
and became his great admirer, often assigning him to most 
responsible duties. 

Early that year the Confederates were particularly active 
in southeastern Virginia. A large force under Generals French, 
lyongstreet and Hood, had been sent down from the Army 
defending Richmond, and advancing eastward threatened to 
surround the Federal forces under Generals Keyes, Peck and 
Getty, near vSuffolk, upon which depended the protection of 



Norfolk. Major-General Keyes, keenly alive to the situation, 
appealed to Admiral Lee for co-operation to protect his right 
flank along the Nansemond River north of Suffolk. Early in 
the month of April scouts reported that a force of over 10,000 
men was approaching the left bank of the Nansemond. A 
row of piling had been placed across the river just below the 
Western Branch as an obstruction, leaving only a narrow 
opening for the passage of light-draught vessels in the mid- 
channel. 

The Confederate artillery had been put in batteries at different 
points to check any advance on the part of the Federal troops 
and their sharpshooters were strung along the entire left 
bank to harass the army and naval tug-boats passing up to 
Suffolk. 

Just prior to this Admiral Lee had planned an attack on 
Jamestown Island by a small flotilla under command of Lieut. 
William B. Gushing, but on receipt of the call from General 
Keyes he diverted this flotilla to the lower Nansemond to guard 
the stream from the Western Branch to the James River. 

Flag Lieutenant Lamson was detailed to guard the tortuous 
stream above the Western Branch to Suffolk, his line of duty 
covering about seven miles of narrow channel within easy 
rifle-shot of the shore throughout its entire distance, whence 
the enemy, concealed in the woods, kept up a constant fire 
upon the pilots and helmsmen of the small flotilla under his 
command, which was composed of the small side- wheel 
steamer Mount Washingion, the little ferry-boat Stepping 
Stones and two small tugs, all anned with 12 and 24-pounder 
howitzers. 

The pilot houses and bulwarks were covered with sheets of 
boiler iron, which would only turn a leaden rifle bullet but 
were practically no protection against field guns of any caliber. 



I^amson with his command reached Suffolk on the 12th of 
April under a heavy fire from sharpshooters and was soon in 
conference with the commanding general. 

On the 13th he took Major-General Getty down-stream to 
observe the situation and landed him below Western Branch. 
At dawn on the morning of the 14th, he proceeded up-stream 
with his little vessels, and at a point below the bend near 
Norfleet's, a battery of seven guns opened on the Mount 
Washington and soon a shot pierced her boiler, disabling her 
entirely. She was taken in tow by the Stepping Stones and they 
withdrew down-stream, still under a heavy fire from the rifle- 
men on shore. The tide was falling and soon the Mount 
Washington went aground on a shoal a short distance above 
the Western Branch obstructions, when a five-gun battery, 
on Hill's Point just abreast them, unmasked and its storm 
of shot soon riddled and further disabled the vessel, killing 
and wounding a number. Lamson saw the almost hopeless- 
ness of the situation called the Stepping Stones alongside, 
transferred the killed and wounded, ordered all the officers 
and men of the Mount Washington to go aboard of that vessel, 
and sent her down-stream to the protection of Cushing's 
command. He did not abandon his disabled steamer, how- 
ever, but kept with him the boat's crew he had brought from 
the Minnesota with Master's Mate Birtwistle. 

As soon as the Stepping Stones had cast off her lines and 
steamed down below the obstructions, Lamson with his men 
carried a small howitzer to the hurricane deck, and from 
between the paddle-boxes kept up as rapid and continuous a 
fire into the battery as he could whilst waiting for the rise of 
the tide to see what he could do to save the steamer. His men 
fought with wonderful daring, those not at the gun using their 
carbines to keep down the enemy in the earthworks. Think- 



lO ^ 

ing at last that he might be able to haul the vessel off, he 
directed his men to man the cutter to run a Hne to a pile that 
was on the enemy's side of the channel up-stream. The crew 
at first hesitated to meet the hail of shot that tore across the 
deck, but Lamson stepped briskly out to the open deck at the 
bow under the hail of bullets from the sharpshooters on shore 
and told them to come forward to him, which they did with 
a rush, and, manning the boat, ran the line to the pile. Just 
as they had secured a loop over it a chance shot missed the 
boat, but cut the pile in two, and the Hne dropping into the 
stream, the boat returned to the steamer where the men again 
worked their gun upon the enemy. 

One of the seamen, Garcia, was cut in two by a shot, and 
as his body went overboard his messmate, Sam Woods, dived 
over after it, but it sank at once. Swimming back, he mounted 
the deck, and, all soaking as he was, coolly returned to his 
station at his gun. 

All this time a continuous fire from the enemy's sharp- 
shooters in the woods was being kept up upon the little band 
of heroes. Soon a shot carried away the flagstaff about two 
feet above the deck and a shout of dehght went up from the 
rebels when they saw the flag go overboard into the stream. 
Lamson, with Master's Mate Birtwistle and Seaman Theilburg, 
heedless of the bullets that swept around them, ran aft, hauled 
up the flagstaff by its halliards, and placing its foot against 
the stump, Lamson ran the flag to the truck and then expended 
the halliards in securing the staff to the stump! 

As soon as the wind filled out the vStars and Stripes in their 
glory, firing ceased at once from the shore ; the rebels mounted 
their works and gave three rousing cheers to Lamson and 
his gallant men ; and he was told that he could, without inter- 
ruption, call up the Stepping Stones to tow his crippled steamer 
down the river. This was promptly done. 



II 

What a tribute was not that to valor! What a chivalric 
spirit, was it not, that prompted it from the enemy? 

During Lamson's engagement up-stream. Lieutenant Gushing' 
and his few vessels were kept busy returning the fire of the 
enemy who, besides their guns on Hill's Point, had a four-gun 
battery in the woods north of the Western Branch, and a large 
force of riflemen in the bordering woods to harass his men. 
Gushing sent forward a brief report of the engagement in which 
he extolled the brilliant work of Lamson, and sending with it 
the wrecked steamer as an exhibit, he said: "It is only nec- 
essary to look at the Mount Washington to see with what 
desperate gallantry Lieutenant Lamson fought his vessel." 

But Lamson had been placed in command of the Upper Nan- 
semond, with instructions to prevent the enemy from crossing 
that stream to attack the flank of the Federal forces. He did 
not bother about writing any long-winded reports to the 
Admiral. He had no thought of self-glorification, nor did he 
return to his comfortable stateroom on the Minnesota to enter- 
tain his messmates and the reporters with lurid tales of his 
recent experiences. That was not his nature. 

As soon as darkness permitted, that same evening he went on 
board of the Stepping Stones and, accompanied by the tug 
Aleit, shpped quietly through the obstructions, whilst the enemy, 
possibly absorbed in celebrating their victory, were forgetful of 
the duty of vigilance, and he soon reached Suffolk in safety and 
reported to the commanding general that he was at hand for 
acion. He wrote a brief note to the Admiral announcing his 
being at Suffolk, and stated therein, "I shall not be satisfied 
unless I can take that battery that knocked the Mount Wash- 
ington to pieces." 

His ingenious mind soon formulated a plan of action which he 
submitted to General Getty, the nearest general officer he could 



12 



confer with. He took his maps with him and explained his 
plans in detail, urging their adoption with all the energy of his 
soul. His enthusiasm won over General Getty who promised 
him all he asked in co-operation. A day or two was lost await- 
ing the approval of the plan by Admiral Lee, who, being devoted 
to his flag lieutenant, was at first loth to permit him to run the 
great risk, and sent the fleet captain, Pierce Crosby, to Suffolk 
with orders to Lamson to withdraw this flotilla unless his good 
judgment suggested otherwise. The fleet captain also was won 
over by Lamson who was left to his own absolute judgment in 
the matter. 

Promptly Lamson directed that hammock cloths should be 
strung all around the vessel from the awning ridge ropes to hide 
the decks of the Stepping Stones. He had four field howitzers 
ready with their crews thoroughly drilled as to what they were 
to do, and long gangplanks were prepared down which the guns 
were to be run at the word. General Getty detailed 300 men 
from the 89th New York Volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
England, and from the 8th Connecticut Volunteers, under 
Colonel Ward, and went with them himself to see that his officers 
and men should carry out exactly and implicity the orders of 
Lieutenant Lamson. 

Down-stream went the Stepping Stones as soon as all were 
on board, on the 20th of April, moving slowly until just above 
the heavy battery on Hill's Point which had crippled the Motint 
Washington. The lookout reported that the enemy had all of 
their guns trained upon one part of the channel where they 
were sure that their concentrated fire would blow the vessel 
out of water. Lamson, pretending that he was afraid to venture 
into that zone of fire, stopped the vessel and slowly retired up- 
stream where he rested for a while. Then, as though intending 
to make a supreme dash past the battery, he ordered full speed 



13 

ahead, and down-stream went the Stepping Stones until just 
short of the bend above the battery, when the helm was put to 
starboard and she went hard against the river bank. Up were 
triced the hammock cloths, out was rushed the gangplank, 
down which the ready crew ran their howitzers and up to the 
crest of the ravine back of the battery. 

The soldiers under General Getty were rushed through the 
ravine out of sight until they had a position to cut off all retreat. 
The amazed rebels in the battery stood inactive for a moment 
and then attempted to swing a gun around to their rear. At 
their first shot, which passed over the heads of our men, a 
volley of cannister was fired into the battery and its commander 
surrendered at once. By sunset the five guns of this battery 
and all the ammunition, together with the entire force of the 
enemy there, 167 men (not a man escaping), were transferred to 
our side of the river under guard, the captain commanding 
having surrendered his sword in person to Lieutenant Lamson, 
who had thus nobly recouped for the drubbing they had given 
him six days before. 

General Getty assumed charge on shore and Lieutenant 
Lamson soon after returned to the flagship and was fairly 
"laurel crowned" with congratulations showered upon him by 
General Getty, by his comrade Gushing and by his Admiral, all 
of which was followed quickly by eulogy in glowing terms from 
the Secretary of the Navy. Amongst the commendations of 
Lamson's gallantry in this engagement we find Admiral Lee 
writing to Secretary Welles as follows : 

"Flag Lieutenant Lamson deserves the fullest credit for the 
success of the expedition which captured the West Branch 
battery so handsomely, taking 5 pieces and 161 men." 

Maj.-Gen. George W. Getty wrote to Admiral Lee, April 20, 
1863: 



14 

"I desire to express most sincere thanks to Captain Lamson, 
U. S. Navy, his officers and men for the gallantry, energy and 
ability displayed by them in the operations of yesterday, result- 
ing in the capture of one of the enemy's batteries of five guns. 

Major-General Peck wrote to Admiral Lee, April 2 1 : 

"The Navy has many gallant spirits but none more so than 
Lieutenants Lamson, Cushing and Harris." 

Major-General Dix wrote to Admiral Lee, May 2, 1863, stating 
that the Admiral's letter, authorizing Lieutenants Lamson and 
Cushing to co-operate with the Army on the Nansemond River, 
"Is all I can ask, and I know that the spirit and gallantry 
those young officers have exhibited on all occasions will insure 
us all the aid it is possible to afiford." 

Secretary Welles on April 24 wrote to Admiral Lee: 

"Great credit is due to Lieutenants Cushing and Lamson for 
the courage, skill and energy displayed by them in an emergency 
requiring the exercise of undaunted bravery and resolution." 

Admiral Lee wrote to Lieutenant Lamson on April 29 a letter 
full of commendation for his courage, skill and energy, express- 
ing approval of his gallant conduct, and on May 4, 1863, ^he 
Secretary of the Navy wrote to Lamson expressing admiration 
for his important and meritorious service, his discretion and 
valor, and stating that — 

"The Department congratulates you on your success and is 
proud to see in the younger members of the corps such evidence 
of energy, and gallantry and executive ability, scarcely sur- 
passed by those of more age and experience." 

Those successes on the Nansemond effectually ended the 
advance movements of the enemy against Norfolk. 

On July 4, 1863, the Confederate Commissioners, Alexander 
H. Stephens, Lieut.-Commander Hunter Davidson and Robert 
Ould, came down the James River and sought permission 
to go to Washington in the Confederate boat Torpedo. 



Flag Lieutenant Lamson was detailed to stop that vessel until 
orders were received from Washington in regard to the request 
made. Lamson boarded the Torpedo and carried out his 
orders with firmness and tact. The request for leave to go to 
Washington was refused and Lamson saw that the Torpedo 
returned up-river under her flag of truce. 

In May, with a view to giving Lamson some experience of 
blockade life, he was ordered to command the Httle Nansemond, 
a speedy little craft named after the victory on the Nansemond, 
and mounting a light parrot rifle and a few howitzers. Before 
he could get away to sea, however, the rebels became exceed- 
ingly active in planting torpedoes in the James River near 
Chapin's Bluff, and to destroy their work the Admiral selected 
Lamson as the one best suited for effective work in that line, 
and on May 12, 1864, ordered him to command a small flotilla 
composed of the Stepping Stones, Delaware and Tritonia, with 
general instructions to clear the river of the torpedoes. 

Without a day's delay Lamson steamed up-river and, under 
the fire of the rebel batteries and sharpshooters, began to drag 
the river above Trent's Reach and near Chapin's Bluff in mid 
stream and close to the banks. Within fourteen days he re- 
turned to the flagship reporting that he had discovered fifteen 
torpedoes, some containing as much as 2,000 pounds of powder, 
had cut the wires connecting with the galvanic batteries on 
shore, and had hauled up the torpedoes and brought them away 
with him. He was then, on June 27, charged with the blocking 
of the river at Trent's Reach, which he did by sinking five 
schooners to prevent rebel rams from descending the river. 

Rejoining his little Nansemond we next find him actively 
engaged on the coast above Cape Far River, having reported 
for duty to Divisional Commander Benjamin F. Sands, and 
the records are full of reports of his work — chasing, running 
ashore or capturing blockade runners, destroying the Doitro and 
the Venus and capturing the Margaret and Jessie. 



i6 

On the 14th of December, 1863, the little Nansemond was 
caught oflf the coast in a terrific gale and nearh^ foundered. 
Lamson was compelled to throw his guns overboard, and by so 
doing saved his vessel and brought her safe to port, and he was 
commended by the Admiral for his efficient conduct and skill 
on that occasion. 

The captured blockade-runner Margaret and Jessie had been 
purchased by the Government and fitted out for blockade ser- 
vice, being renamed the Gettysburg. Lieutenant Lamson was 
ordered to command her and the writer was, at his request, also 
attached to her on February 14, 1864. The Admiral and the 
Divisional Commander gave him full discretion as to where he 
would cruise to be of the best use in sustaining the blockade, 
and he carefully studied the routes over which the blockade- 
runners were accustomed to go in their efiforts to evade the 
blockading fleet. He again proved his efficiency, skill and 
professional knowledge. 

After one two-weeks trip in which he had tested the speed 
and seagoing quaUties of his new command, he had the vessel 
docked at the Norfolk Navy Yard. When the steel bottom 
of the vessel had been thoroughly scraped, cleaned and painted, 
Lamson bought a barrel of tallow and had it melted down 
and applied hot to the whole bottom before leaving dock. 
Steaming away to the blockade a blockade-runner was sighted 
off Cape Lookout and the Gettysburg estabUshed a record for 
speed. The runner, which proved to be the Lillian with 619 
bales of cotton on board, was soon overhauled, captured and 
sent into port. 

Then came the attacks on Fort Fisher. Lamson was selected 
again for the hazardous duty of seeing to the safety of Captain 
Rhind and his officers and crew, when the giant torpedo, 
the Louisiana, was exploded under the guns of the fort. He 
discharged the duty with skill and safety. 



17 

During the bombardments of December 24 and 25, 1864, 
the little Gettysburg was shoved into the front line of the fleet, 
and from between the larger vessels, her Httle 30- pounder 
parrot rifle kept up a continuous fire on the Mound Battery. 
When the fleet returned on January 14 to attack that great 
fort, Lamson learned from the Admiral of the proposed landing 
of the sailors to participate in the assault. He obtained 
permission to join the party and landed on the morning of the 
15th of January, 1865, with three of his officers and seventy- 
two men. 

In the assault the Gettysburg party was well up to the front, 
and Lamson fell wounded severely, close to the Palisades, 
where he was compelled to remain, disabled, until nightfall 
permitted his being brought off and taken to the Gettysburg, 
whence he was afterwards sent north for hospital treatment. 
His gallantry in that action was warmly commended by 
Admiral Porter in his report of the victory. 

Upon his recovery, Lamson was appointed flag heutenant 
to Admiral L. M. Goldsborough, and reported for dutv on the 
flagship Colorado, and served for some time on that duty in 
the Mediterranean Squadron. 

Finding that no further recognition was to be given for 
his brilliant services and that promotion would only come to 
him when his seniors died off in order to make vacancies in 
the higher grades, he became discouraged and resigned in 1867. 

He went into business in the Windsor Manufacturing Com- 
pany, of Windsor, Vt., and on November 14, 1867, married 
Miss Catharine Buckingham, the daughter of Gen. C. P. Buck- 
ingham, then Governor of Connecticut. The company became 
a failure and he lost everything and then returned to Oregon 
in 1870. 

In 1874 he was elected County Clerk of Yamhill County 
for two years, and in 1876 was appointed a Professor of Mathe- 



i8 

matics at the Pacific University at Forrest Grove. In 1877 
he was appointed Clerk of the United States Circuit and Dis- 
trict Courts. Whilst 'so serving he began to suffer from loco- 
motor ataxia, the outcome of his exposure in the naval service, 
and in 1894 he resigned. 

In 1895 he was reappointed a lieutenant in the Navy in 
recognition of his admirable war services, and was put on the 
retired Ust. 

He died on August 14, 1903, leaving two children surviving 
him, a son, Roswell B. Lamson, an attorney-at-law in Portland, 
Ore., and a daughter, Helen, now Mrs. Clarence S. Crary, of 
Mayfield, Cal. 

The career of Lieut. Roswell H. Lamson was one which 
illustrates the short-sighted policy that sometimes controls the 
action of our naval authorities, and in a measure confirms the 
truth of what has been said about the ingratitude of republics. 

Here was the case of a brilliant young officer, a born leader 
amongst men, an accompHshed graduate of the Naval Academy, 
beloved and respected by all with whom he served, whose 
services reflected the greatest honor upon the flag, and were 
of great importance to the success of the Union cause; who 
had been several times commended for gallant and distinguished 
conduct in battle ; who had been wounded severely in leading 
his Gettysburg's men in the land assault upon Fort Fisher; 
and who was often on other occasions commended for excellent 
service; and he failed to receive the prompt promotion he 
merited on his record. 

Had Lamson been an officer in any of the European Govern- 
ments, his brilliant achievements would not only have won 
him the Victoria Cross or the Cross of the Legion cf Honor, or 
other high honors, but promotion prompt and high would have 
been his; for, as the records show, his daring, his skill, his suc- 
cesses over the encmv in action, and his wounds in battle were 



19 

not only to his personal credit, but to the honor of the naval 
service which he so well represented as the Secretary of the 
Navy declared. 

An interesting incident connected with Lamson's restoration 
to the Naval List may be cited as showing an estimate by great 
men of his valor and valuable services. 

At one of the monthly reunions of the District of Columbia 
Commandery of the Loyal Legion in 1894, the writer to enter- 
tain the large audience of Civil War veterans who were present 
read a paper relating to life on the Blockade, and gave a descrip- 
tion of Lamson's victory on the Nanscmond. It was received 
with enthusiastic applause and a gray-bearded officer came 
forward and, announcing that he was Maj.-Gen. George W. 
Getty who had co-operated with Lamson in that affair, declared 
that the narrative was absolutely accurate in every detail and 
spoke in the warmest eulogy of the young officer. 

Then Maj-Gen. Redfield Proctor, John G.Hawley and Charles 
W. Manderson, all United States Senators, asked the writer 
where Lamson was and what he was doing. They were told 
that he was a great sufferer from locomotor ataxia, originating 
from his wounds received in battle. "Why do you not do 
something for him?" the}^ asked. "We always look after our 
disabled veterans in the Army and see that they are well 
provided for by the Government, when they have such records." 

"But the naval veterans are not found in Congress," was 
the writer's reply, "so what can I do?" 

"Act in some way," they said, "and we pledge ourselves 
to aid you in Congress, because his brilliant achievements 
deserve such recognition." 

I thanked them and, remembering that a special act had been 
passed in the early eighties for Lamson's restoration, which he 
had then declined to avail himself of as it would have broken 
up his home, I wrote to Lamson, and within three weeks a 



20 



petition came on signed by the Bench and Bar of Oregon, 
asking for his restoration to the service. I had it promptly 
presented to President Cleveland and the Bureau Chiefs in the 
Department endorsed it strongly. 

The President sent the nomination in promptly but without 
giving any reasons for the action. 

The Clerk of the Naval Committee, knowing of my associa- 
tions with naval officers, sent for me, and asked if I knew any- 
thing about Lanison. I told him I did, and wrote out a brief 
sketch of his heroism in battle. He took the paper up to the 
Senate floor and in five minutes down came Senator Eugene 
Hale, with the paper in his hand. 

"Is this the young officer," he exclaimed, "of whom Mander- 
son, Hawley and Proctor have been talking to me, whose story 
you told to the Loyal Legion some time ago?" I assured him 
it was and he left the Committee Room, asking me to wait a 
while. Inside of twenty minutes he returned and informed me 
that he had broken in upon the business of the Senate with a 
motion to go into executive session, and had the nomination 
unanimously confirmed. 

Such prompt recognition of Lamson's merit from such great 
men, and from officers of such distinction, was a beautiful trib- 
ute to the merit of my friend and comrade, and I have always 
felt grateful to them for that action. 

Had Lamson not resigned in 1867, he would doubtless have 
left a longer record of usefulness to his country, his professional 
attainments being of the highest order and his devotion to duty 
being always perfect and admirable. 

Therefore it is that we must recognize the fact that the Navy 
is honored by thus having one of the newest type of torpedo- 
boat destroyers named the Lamson, in evidence that his 
grateful country remembers his distinguished and meritorious 
services in the Civil War, and points to his admirable record as 
one to be emulated by all who enter the naval service. 



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